Have You Started Your Inner Journey? -anonymous

One is often given a solemn warning that he has joined an organization that is far more serious than the Candidate realizes and that their involvement in the Lodge and the Order will unravel the mystery of our beloved Order…Far too often though, this excitement which has been building up in the Candidate both before and after entering our Lodge all but fades after realizing that there is seldom any further discussion of the Ritual that they have participated in.

The Ante Room: Ep. 1 Odd Fellow Interview with Lucas Hess

On this episode: Ainslie Heilich interviews Lucas Hess, who is in the process of joining the Odd Fellows. He discusses his first impressions of the Odd Fellows, his reasons for wanting to join, and what he hopes to get out of the experience as a member of the LGBT community.

Ghosts of Odd Fellows Past on Camera!

Check out Heart in Hand co-founder Ainslie Heilich’s haunted Lodge/Tattoo Studio/Home when the GhostNet Paranormal Investigations team came over!

COMING SOON: “The Ante Room” Video Series

Heart in Hand: The Modern Odd Fellow’s Guide is proud to announce “The Ante Room”. A video series where we discuss all things “Odd” and interview members from all over the globe. If you have a topic idea you would like to see covered or want to be featured on the show, just send an […]

Ainslie discusses the Lodge Goat on the Historical Light Podcast -full video interview

Have you heard the jokes around Freemasonry about “the goat”? Have you heard of the Odd Fellows (IOOF)? Well, in this episode of Historical Light our resident historians tackle both topics head-on with a special guest, Ainslie Heilich. To top things off, Ainslie is our first guest on the show that is not a Freemason, but rather an Odd Fellow. We get to go on a special private tour of an Odd Fellows lodge and tackle the issue of the goat head-on in the process. You will not want to miss this episode!

Three Inquiries Into The Language Used In An Odd Fellows’ Lodge Open In The Initiatiory Degree And The Inclusivity That Language May Imply – by Arike van de Water

The Odd Fellows aims to include people of all genders, religions and other backgrounds, I was assured. While I have found this to be true of the community, the language used in the meetings does not yet bear this out. I wish to discuss the questions I have had about the language used in an Odd Fellow Meeting when the Lodge is open in the Initiatory Degree, and how we have, so far, handled these questions in the Mountain View Lodge.

Odd Fellowship is Progressive Part II by Michael Greenzeiger, GW CA

Unlike other types of organizations, which may find it desirable to have a set of officers or leaders that varies little from year to year, in Odd Fellowship we see value in giving as many brothers and sisters as possible the chance to participate in leadership. While, the “desk officer” positions of Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Treasurer do often remain with the same individuals from year to year, there also exist the “line offices” which comprise a series of steps leading up through Noble Grand which are designed to be switched every year as the members advance.

Immigrant Among You -by Arike van de Water

Here in Mountain View Lodge #244 we are trying to give hands and feet to the call to “relieve the distressed” by holding fundraisers, for detained immigrants and refugees, among other things. Isn’t that too political a cause? some critical thinkers in our lodge asked. So it may seem.

What is Oddfellowship? The Three Link Fraternity

The name itself signifies something different or out of the ordinary. And, it is ODD, because it endeavors to enlighten the mind without taking privileges. It conforms to Law, Religion, and sound Morality without usurping the rights of the rights of the church or that of the courts. It creates a brotherhood and sisterhood and not a division among men and women. It presents life in all its fullness, through degrees, so linked together that each one receiving the degrees may broaden his or her mind and elevate his or her character.

IS Odd Fellowship Worth While?

As man has become more and more advanced in his civilization, there has developed in him a knowledge that a selfish life, though it may be rewarded with much of this world’s goods, is, after all, a narrow and useless life — a life but poorly lived.

Christopher McHale Interview -by Toby Hanson PGM

I went from not being a member of the Odd Fellows to then, as I’ve said—it’s kind of overtaken my life. It literally has become a huge chunk of my life and I’ve had a few people over the past two years ask me if they joined Odd Fellowship what would they get out of it. You can literally get out of it whatever you want. You could just show up to a meeting a month and not participate, you can make life long friends, you can travel the world and meet brothers and sisters all over the place.

200th Anniversary Products by Ainslie Heilich

I have designed and added a variety of 200th anniversary products available for order on the Heart in Hand Zazzle.

If ordering, make sure you check all the customization options like shirt color, custom text, other product versions.

All royalties benefit my Lodge.